Threading machine



March 31, 1931. R WILCQX TI-IREADING MACHINE Filed Jan. 20, 1930 1 9Sheets-Sheet l R. L. WILCOX v THREADING MACHINE Filed Jan.

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March 31, 1931. R. L. WILCOX THREADING MACHINE Filed Jan. 20, 1930 9Sheets-Sheet 9 gvvuvntor, ichardLesfermlcoac Patented Mar. 31, 1931UNITED STATES.

PATENT orrlcr.

RICHARD LESTER WII COX, F WATEBBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE WATER-IB'URY FARREL FOUNDRY AND MACHINE COMPANY, OF WATERBURY, CONNECT ICUT, ACORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT rnmiamne MACHINE Application filed Januaw 20,1930. Serial No. 422,146.

This invention relates to a new and improved threading machine of theroll thread type.

. In a machine of this character it is desirable to operate upon blanksof various lengths and upon blanks of the same length wherein the lengthof thread rolled thereon varies, and to accomplish this with the minimumadjustments. A

It is advantageous also that the blanks be conveyed in a continuousstream to a. point where they are presented to the dies, with theminimum mechanism.

These and other new and useful objects are accomplished in the threadingmachine herein shown and described, and in addition thereto means areprovided whereby it is impossible for more-than a single blankto enteror lie between the dies or be positioned there- 29 between at one andthe same time, the stream of blanks being entirely shut ofi" after ablank has entered between the dies and unltil it has passed between andbeen released by the dies. To these and other ends my invention con-vsists in the threading machine, having certain details ,of constructionand combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and moreparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate like partsin the several figures:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of my improved threading machine;

Figure 2 is a side view thereof;

Figure 3 is an end view thereof;

Figure 1 is an enlarged side view of the chute mechanism and associatedparts adjacent thereto;

Figure 5 is an enlarged side view of the threading machine,substantially 'opposite that portion of the machine shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the threading machineshowing particu- 15 larly the fixed die, the slide mechanisms and '26 issecured by the clamp 27, or the like, is

associated parts, the parts in section being illustrated as takengenerally upon line 6-45 of Figure'l;

Figure? is an enlarged view of a portion of the mechanism substantiallyas shown in Figure 6 with the safety device in the position opposite tothat shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of that portion of thethreading machine immediately adjacent to the delivery end of the chute;I Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of myimproved threading machine as illustrated in Figure 8, but showing aplurality of blanks in the chute and one blank about to bepassedbetweeni the threading dies;

Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional elevation of that portion of themechanism shown in- Figure 8, the parts in section being taken generallyon line 10-10 thereof.

Figure 11 is a sectional view of the hopper device parts, upon line11-11 of Figure 12;

Figure 12 is a sectional view of the hopper devlice parts, upon line12-12 of Figure 11; ant

Figure 13 is a transverse sectional view of the slides and adjacentparts, taken generally upon line-13-13 of Figure 6.

In the drawings, 10 designates the pedestal or base having a panll-connccted therewith to receive the finished product and lubricant, 1fany, after passing through the machine, and secured to the top of thepedestal at an gngle of approximately 30 is the body mem- Power istransmitted to the machine through a driving wheel 13 fixed on the shaft14, having a pinion 15 thereon, the teeth of which mesh into those of a.gear 16 upon the shaft 17. The shaft 14 is journaled in a bracket 112.

Slidable within the body member 12 between the gib 20 and a cap 21 isthe gate 18 that is connected with the gear 16by the pitman 19, wherebyreciprocatory movement is imparted thereto; Secured to the gate by theclamp v22, or the like, upon a suitably sized filling block 24, is themovable die 23.

A die block 25, to which the stationary die adjustably mounted on thebody member 12 toward and away from the gate, by screws '29 and stopscrews 28, substantially as shown in Figure 1. A stud 30 in the bodymember 12, in engagement with the die block 25, provldes additionalsupport for the die block and in part absorbs the end strain thereof.The die block is held in any of its adjusted positions on the bodymember by the bolts 31 which pass through slots 32 therein.

Near the upper end of one side of the body member is a plate 33 whichmay be made in tegral therewith or separate and secured thereto as maybe desired. Upon this plate is slidably mounted the hopper bracket 34,through the manipulation of the screw 35, the head of which restsagainst the lug 36 and is locked in its adjusted position by the nut 37.The hopper mechanism 38, which can be of any preferred type, issupported upon this bracket and is secured thereon so as to beadjustable horizontally by screws 39. Associated with this hoppermechanism is a clearance mechanism 40, also of any preferred type. Thehopper mechanism is thus adj ustable relatively to the body member in aplane substantially parallel thereto and also horizontally. Connectedand adjustable with the hopper mechanism are companion chute plates 41.The lower ends of the, chute plates are curved inwardly toward thethreading dies, as shown in Figure 8, so that I they terminatesubstantially in line with the fixed die, whereby a blank passing fromthe chute is presented directly in line with said dies. By soconstructing the chuteplates the use of transfer mechanisms with theirobjectionable features is thus obviated. The hopper mechanism, clearancemechanism and [chute plates, except as modified herein, are

of any preferred form and constitute no part of this invention.

Adjacent to each other, on the body 12, are the brackets 42 and-43. Thebracket 42 is adjustable toward and away from the gate and is secured inits adjusted positions by the bolts 44 which pass. through slots in thebracket.

The outer chute plate near its lower end is fixed to a bracket 45 whichforms a rigid support therefor and is slidable upon the pin 46- fixed inthe adjustable bracket 42 and held in its adjusted positions by the setscrew 47. The inner chute plate 41 is fixed to a bracket 48 which isslidably mounted upon a post 49 in the fixed bracket 43 and held-in itsadjusted position by the set screw 50.

Above the opening between the chute plates is a cover plate 51 supportedadjustably at its opposite ends by studs 52 and 53, the lat-- ter beingmounted in a lug 54 on the bracket 45 and the former in a plate 55preferably connected withthe hopper mechanism and forming an additionalsupport for the outer chute plate. To accommodate heads of blanks ofvarious sizes passing along the chute plates the cover plate 51 1s movedtoward and away from Fixed to the inner end of the outer chute.

plate'41 is a guide plate 56, which extends beyond' the chute plate, andhaving a guide face 57, which substantially fills the space betweendies. During the movement of the blank against the guide face 57 theunderside of the head rests on the top of guide plate 56 thus insuring aproper axial position of the blank relative to the dies.

At times it is desirable and convenient that the operator may haveaccess to the lowermost blank in the column of blanks in the chute andothers adjacent thereto. as to make these blanks thus accessible, I.provide an extension latch 58 which is piv-. otally connected on thecover plate and having an extension lip 59 that projects. beyond the endof the chute plates and terminates at a point over the movable die oradjacent thereto, substantially as shown in Figure 1.. ,This extensionlip insures proper alignment of the blank with the dies and prevents thesame from tipping oi tilting, as may be liable to occur from time totime. This latch is held rigid against accidental movement on the coverplate by a spring clamp 60, which is fixed to the cover plate by a screw61 or the like. Lifting up with the fingers the outer end of the springclamp .sure to insure the engagement of the blank by the dies.

Also mounted in the bracket 48 adjacent to the slide 62, is'a cut-offslide 64, on the outer end of which is a cut-off finger 65 with anangular pointed nose, which during the movement of the slidepassesbetween the two lowermost blanks out of the chute and into contact withthe movable die in advance of the pusher finger 63, substantially asshown in Figure 9. This cut-01f finger at the same time prevents theescape of any further blanks in the column until withdrawn. The slide 62derives a reciprocatory movement through the pitman 66 between the stud67 and the arm 68 upon a rock shaft 69 that is journaled in the fixedbracket 70. On this rock shaft, opposite to the rock arm 68, is the rockarm 71. I

.On the body 12 is .the lever bracket 72, having a stud 73 therein, uponwhich is j ournaled the rock arm 74 carrying a cam roll 75,

which is in constant engagement with the' face of the cam 76 on theshaft 17, through the action of the spring 84. Pivotally connected withthe rock arm 74 is a yoke 77, into Which is threaded one end of a rod 78that has a shoulder 79 between its ends Where the reduced portion 80 ofthe rod passes through the block 81 that is pivotally connected with thearm 71.

A spring 82 encircles the portion 80 of this rod between the block 81and jamb nuts 83 threaded thereon, substantially as shown in Figure 5.

Motion is transmitted to the cut-off slide primarily from the pusherslide and so arranged as to travel in opposite directions. The mechanismwhereby th1s is accomplished comprises a cam plate 85 fixed to the slide62 and having a cam roove 86 within which travels the cam roll 8 uponone arm of a rock lever 88. This latter lever is journaled upon a stud89 fixed in the bracket 48, one arm of which is slotted, and movablymounted therein is a block. 90 journaled upon a stud 91 fixed in'theslide 64.

The rock arm 88 is mounted on the fixed stud 89 and oscillates thereonas the roll 87 travels in the cam groove as the slide 62 reciprocates,and the parts are so arranged that as the slide 62 returns or moves awayfrom the fixed die, the slide 64 advances toward said die and thecut-olf finger 65 cuts oil the lowermost blank in the chute and intoposithe pusher finger as before is traveling forward and rolling thethread,

and does not return until the thread has been completely rolled, afterwhich it returns, uncovering the stream of blanks and permitting anotherblank to be advanced in front thereof.

llhave provided means whereby to prevent more than a single blank beingbetween the dies. This means consists generally of a rock lever 92journaled on a stud 93 fixed in thebracket 48 and having a blade arm 94fastened thereto by screws 96 or the like. This blade arm 94 projectsdirectly over the space between the dies and is of suflicient length toextend to the finishing end of the stationary die. The rock lever 92terminates in a hook end opposite to the blade arm. The blank as itleaves thechute passes under the blade arm 94 substantially as shown inFigure 6,

and as it is pushed to its position between the dies is engaged thereby.Thus, the rock lever 92 is moved upon its pivot mounting by reason ofthe fact that the underside of the blade arm 94 rides against the top ofthe head, substantially as shown in Figure 7, at which time the hook end95 is moved downwardly in rear of the pusher finger 63 and there remainsuntil the blank has passed out of the dies, when the support provided bythe blank for the blade arm 94 being removed, the latter drops bygravity and lifts the hook end 95 to its former position out of the pathof the pusher finger 63.

When the bolt is between the dies the slide 62 cannot return and uncoverthe stream I of blanks in the chute, because the hook end causeprevented by engagement of the rock lever 92 with the pusher finger, thespring- 82 will be compressed and absorb the motion of-the 'cam 76without imparting movement to the rock shaft 69.

For convenience in adjusting the machine and watching the operation ofsome of the parts, and for other reasons, without feeding lanks to thedies, I have provided means for preventing the return of the pusherfingers 63, even though no blank is between the dies, comprising a stopfinger 98 that is mounted upon a stud 99 upon the bracket 48.

In one of its adjusted positions, such as shown in Figure 6, the stopfinger is held in its operative positlon, but if it is desired tomaintain the hook end 95 in the rock lever 92 in the path of the finger63,.this latter finger is ppshed to the dotted lines shown in Figure Inoperation the blanks pass from the hopper through the chute mechanism,pass the clearance mechanism and successively arrive at the lower end ofthe chute from whence they escape one by one into the path of the pusherfinger by the action of the cut-01f fin-' ger and then advanced throughthe dies under the safety mechanism that. prevents an- -other blankentering between the dies and mechanism, chute mechanism, pusher and 5transfer fingers, and safety mechanism, all

as a unit, are adjusted toward and away from the bed of the machine toaccommodate blanks of various lengths, after which the parts are againheld securely by the set screws 47 and 50 and the jamb nut 37.

A longer or shorter thread is sometimes required on the same lengthblank and to pro vide for such contingency the chute and hoppermechanism is adjusted in exactly the same manner, occupying differentpositions relative to the body ofthe machine for the mately theirextreme up position, the latter being for long blag-ks having shortlengths of threads, and the former the reverse.

The open space between the chute plates may be varied by adjustment ofthe bracket 42 upon the bed of the machine and the hopper 38 on thebracket 34 after loosening screws 39.

One of the features of my invention is the means for operating from thesame shaft having a fixed axis, the hopper mechanism irrespective of itsrelative position in respect to the bedof the machine. This mechanismconsists essentially of a gear carrier 100 preferably made in two partsand secure together by bolts 101 or the like, and in which is a stud102, upon which is journaled a pinion 103, the teeth of which mesh intothose of a gear 104, fixed on the hopper shaft 105, upon which is adriving-pulley 106. A connection 107 also connects the stud 102 andshaft 105. On the shaft 14 is a inion 108. The gear carrier is journaledon t e bushin 109 upon the shaft and is held against en wise movementthereon by the nut 110. An opening 113 in the side walls of the gearcar.- rier 100 permits movement of the latter rela 'tive to the hoppershaft 105. The belt 111 is connected with the pulley 106 and by means ofwhich the hopper mechanism is actuated.

' The axis of the shaft 14 is constant but the horizontal axis of theshaft 105 varies according to the relative position of the hoppermechanism upon the body member. Power is constantly derived by the shaft105 a from the shaft 14 irrespective of such various positions of thelatter, throughthe pinions 108, 103 and gear 104. Thisis accomplishedthrough the gear carrier the pinion 108 and gear 103 in mesh with eachother and the connection 107 holding the gears 103 and 104 in mesh witheach other.

minor changes and alterations may be made and I would therefore have itunderstoo that I do not limit myself to the exact con- 1. In a threadingmachine; a pair of dies;

means for guiding blanks to the dies; and

means for pushing the blanks from the.

guiding means to engage both dies, all of said means being adjustable asa unit.

2. In a threadin machine; a pair of dies; means for guiding lanks to thedies; means to prevent the escape of more than one blank at a time fromthe guiding means, all of said means being adjustable as a unit.

3. In a threading machine; a pair of dies; means for guiding blanks tothe dies; means for pushing the blanks from the guiding means tolengageboth dies; and means to in-' sure the presence-of, only a single blankbetween the dies at one time, all of said means being adjustable as aunit.

4. In a threading machine; a pair of dies; means for guiding blanks tothe dies; means for pushing the blanks from the guiding means to engageboth dies; means for preventing the escape of more than one blank at atime from the guiding means; and means to insure the presence of only asingle blank between the dies at one time, all of said means beingadjustable as a unit.

5. In a threading machine; a air of dies; hopper mechanism; means orguiding blanks from the hopper mechanism to the dies; means for pushingthe blanks from the guiding means to engage both dies, the said meansand hopper all being adjustable as a unit.

6. In a threading machine; a pair of dies; and means for guiding blanksto the dies, arranged so that the blanks will travel continuously insubstantially the same plane at an angle to the horizontal, a portion ofthe path of travel being in a substantially straight line and another.portion in a curved path, the latter being adjacent to the delivery endof the guiding means.

7. In a threading machine; a pair of es; and means for guiding blanks tothe dies t at travel continuously by gravity in a streamat an angle tothe horizontal, comprism 1n part, a clutch mechanism that is curved ajacent to the dies and terminates in a plane that is approximatelycoincident with the face of the dies. I 8. In a threading machine; apalr of d1es;

,means for guiding blanks to the dies; means for pushing the blanks fromthe guiding means to engage both dies; means for pre- 100 holding/venting the escape of more than one blank at a time from the guidingmeans; and means for holding the pushing means against movement while ablank is between the dies.

65 Within the scope of the appended claims, 9. In a threading machine; apair of dies;

means for guiding blanks to the dies; means for pushing the blanks fromthe iding means to engage both dies; means or preventing the escape ofmore than one blank at a time from the guiding means; andmeans forholding the escape means against movement while a blank is between thedies. 10. In a threading machine; a pair of dies; means for guidingblanks to thedies; means for pushing the blanks from the uiding means toengage both dies; means for preventing the escape of more than one blankat a time from the guiding means; and means, as a movable membercontrolled in part by a blank between the dies, for holding the pushingmeans against movement while said blank is between the dies.

11. In a threading machine; a pair of dies; means for guiding blanks tothe dies; means for pushing the blanks from the guiding means to engageboth dies; means for pre venting the escape of more than one blank at atime from the guiding means; means, as a movable member controlled inpartby a blank between the dies,- for holding the pushing means againstmovement while said blank is between the dies; and means for locking themovable member when holding the ushing means. v

12. In a threading machine; a pair of dies; means for guiding blanks tothe dies; means for pushing the blanks from. the guiding means to engageboth dies; and a rock member actuated in one direction by the blankbetween the dies that will engage and hold the pushing means againstmovement.

13. In a threading machine; a pair of dies; means for guiding blanks tothe dies; means for pushing the blanks from the guiding means to engageboth dies; and a rock member in the path of movement of a blank betweenthe dies which is actuated by such blank and by reason thereof holds thepushing means against movement.

14. In a threading machine; a pair of dies; means for guiding blanks tothe dies; means for pushing the blanks from the guiding means to engageboth dies; and a rock member projecting over the open space between thedies and terminating adjacent to the extension limit of movement of thedies in the path of movement of a blank between the dies, which isactuated by such blank and by reason thereof holds the pushing meansagainst movement.

15. In a threading machine; a pair of dies; means for guiding blanks tothe dies; means for pushing the blanks from the guiding means to engageboth dies; and means, comprising in part, a cut-ofl member actuated fromthe rushing means to prevent the escape of more than one blank at a timefrom the guiding means and so timed that the member is projected betweenthe two blanks adjacent to the die in advance of the pusher means.

16. In a threading machine; a pair of dies; means for guiding the blanksto the dies; means forpushing the blanks from the guiding means toengage both dies; means to prevent the escape of more than one blank ata time from the guiding means; and an operative connection between thepushing means and escape means, whereby the escape means and in advanceof the latter is actuated from the pushing means.

17. In a threading machine; a pair of dies; means for guiding the blanksto the dies; means for pushing the blanks from the guiding means toengage both dies;-

means to-prevent the escape of more than one blank at a time from theguiding means,

ing meansto engage both dies; comprising in part a slide, means toprevent the escape of more than one blank at a time from the guidingmeans ;.comprising in part a slide, and a cam actuated rook mechanismbetween the said slides, and so timed that the means to prevent theescape of more than one blank at a time from the guiding means willoperate in advance of the pusher means'.

19. In a threading machine; a pair of dies; means for guiding the blanksto the dies; means for pushing the blanks from the guiding means toengage both dies; means to prevent the escape of more than one blank ata time from the guiding means; and an operative connection between thepushing means and escape means, whereby the escape means means forguiding lanks to the dies having a slot therein, through which theblanks travel; means for pushing the blanks from the guiding means toengage both dies; and means to prevent the escape of more than one blankat a time from the guiding means, the arrangement of said "means beingsuch that when the escape means uncovers the end of said slot thepushing means is in front thereof. b

21. In a threading machine; a pair of dies; means for guiding the blanksto the dies, comprising in part a bracket adjustable in a pathsubstantially perpendicular to the face of the dies; a second brackethaving a similar adjustment and also movable toward "and away from theother bracket; and chute plates connectedwith said brackets.

22. -In a' threading machine ;-a pair of dies; means for guiding theblanks to the dies,-

comprising in part a bracket adjustable in a path substantiallyperpendicular to the face of the dies; a second bracket having a similaradjustmentand also movable toward and away from the other bracket; andchute plates connected with said brackets that are curved in thedirection of their length and between which the blanks travel to thedischarge end of the chute plates where they are successively dischargedin substantially the same plane as the face of the dies.

23. In a threading machine; a pair of dies; means for guiding the blanksto' the dies, comprising in part a bracket adjustable in a pathsubstantially perpendicular to the face of the dies; a'second brackethaving a similar adjustment and also movable toward and away .from theother bracket; chute plates connected with said brackets, one chuteplate being shorter than the other; and a guide plate forming anextension of the shorter chute plate and providing a support for theblanks while out of the chute and traveling a limited distance in aplane substantially parallel with'the-face of the dies.

24; In a threading machine; a pair of dies means forguiding the blanksto the dies,

' comprising in part a bracket adjustable in a path substantiallyperpendicular to the face of thedies; a second bracket having a simi=lar adjustment and also movable toward'and away from the other bracket;chute plates connected with'said brackets, one chute plate being shorterthan the other; and a guide plate providing a support for-the blanksnear the discharge end of the chute and in a path at an angle theretowhile being presented be tween the dies.

25. In a threading machine; a pair of die means for. guiding the blanksto the dies, comprising in pa'rt a bracket adjustable in a of the dies;a second-bracket having a path-substantially perpendicular to theifaceS1ml-. lar adj" stment and also movable toward and 'away from the otherbracket; chute plates connected with said brackets; a fixed memberforming a support forthefirst-of said brackets; and an adjustable memberforming. a support for the latter of said brackets.

26. In a threadingmachine; a pair of dies;

a fixed bracket; a chute member adjustably connected-with the bracket; asecond bracket adjustable toward and away from the first mentionedbracket; a chute member adjustably mounted thereon; and a chute platecon-. nected with'each of said chute members and positioned relativelyto each other so asto leave an open space therebetween through whichblanks travel. e 27. In a threading machine; a pair ofdies;

means for guiding the blanks to the dies, com

prising in part a bracket adjustable in a path substantiallyperpendicular to the face of the dies; a second bracket having a similarad-' justment; chute plates connected with said -movably associated withone of said brackets.

29. In a threading machine; a pair of dies; means for guiding the blanksto the dies, comprising in part a bracket .adjustable in a pathsubstantially perpendicular to the face of the dies; a second brackethaving a similar adjustment; chute plates connected with said brackets;means to prevent the escape of more than one blankat a time from theguiding means, both of said means being movably associated with one ofsaid brackets; and independent mechanism for moving both of said meansin opposite directions.

30. In a threading machine; a pair of dies; means for guiding the blanksto the dies;

means for pushing the blanks from the guiding-means to engage both dies;means .for reciprocating the pushing means, comprising in part arock-member; a connection between the rock member and pushing means; acam for, actuating the rock shaft; and a connection between the cam androck shaft.

31. In a threading machine; a pair of dies; means for guiding the blanksto the dies; means for pushing the blanks from the guiding means toengage both dies; means for reciprocating the pushing means, comprisingin part a rock member; a connection between the rock member and pushlngmeans; a cam for actuating the rock shaft; and yielding means betweenthe cam and rock shaft, wherebythe cam may continue to operate if move-.ment of the rock shaft is prevented.

32. In a threading machine; a pair of dies;

hopper mechanism; means for guiding blanks from the hopper mechanism tothe dies;

. means for pushing the blanks fromthe guiding means to engage bothdies, the said means andhopper all .beingadjustable as a unit; a shaft;and means for actuating the hopper from the shaft,comprisingq'intermediate positively actuated mechanism that willfunction in any ofthe adjusted-positions of the hopper.

33. In combination; a shaft;'a.hopper adjustable relatively to theshaft; and means v for positivelyactuating thehopper from the shaftirrespective of the relative position-0f the latter, comprising acarrier movably connected with the shaft; a pinion rotatably connectedwith the carrier; a hopper shaft; a connection between the shaft and thepart upon which the pinion rotates; a pinion on the first mentionedshaft, the teeth ofwhich mesh into those of said pinion; and a gearassociated with the hopper shaft, the teeth of which also mesh intothose of the first mento tioned pinion.

34. In combination; a shaft; a hopper adjustable relatively to theshaft; ,means for positively actuating the hopper from the shaftirrespective of the relative position of 1 the latter, comprising ahopper shaft; a stud or the like connected with the carrier, the axis ofsaid hopper shaft and stud being constant relative to each other; aconnection between the hopper shaft and stud; and a train to of gearsand pinions connecting the hopper shaft and shaft, one of such trains ofgears being on the shaft, another on the stud, and another upon thehopper shaft.

35. In combination; a shaft; a hopper ad- 2 justable relatively to theshaft; means for positively actuating the hopper from the shaftirrespective of the relative position of the latter, comprising a pinionupon the shaft; a stud or the like carrying a. pinion 80 and movablearound the axis of the shaft; a hopper shaft, having a connection withthe stud, whereby the latter will maintain a constant position relativeto the former; and a gear upon the hopper shaft, the teeth of which meshinto those of the pinion upon said stud.

36. In combination; a shaft; a hopper adjustable relatively tothe shaft;means for positively actuating the hopper from the shaft irrespective ofthe relativeposition of the latter, comprising a carrier journaled onthe shaft; a. stud or the like fixed in the carrier and occupying duringthe movement of the carrier a position wherein the axis thereof isrelatively constant with that of the shaft; pinions connecting the shaftand stud; a hopper shaft having a movement about the axis of the shaftindependent of the carrier; a connection between the hopper shaft andstud; and a gear upon the hopper shaft, the teeth of which mesh intothose of the pinion on the stud.

37. In a chute, the combination with a cover plate shorter than thechute; of a latch movably connected therewith and forming an extensionof said plate.

38. In a chute, the combination with a cover plate shorter than thechute; of a latch movably connected therewith and forming an extensionof said plate; and means for locking the latch against accidentalmovement.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

RICHARD LESTER WILGOX.

